How to set up a mouse or trackpad on iPad
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Tested on
- iPadOS 18.4 - iPad Pro M4
- You will need
- iPad compatible with iPadOS 13.4 or later, Bluetooth or USB-C mouse/trackpad
Step by step
Establish the hardware connection
For Bluetooth devices, open Settings and tap Bluetooth to ensure the toggle is enabled. Put your mouse or trackpad into pairing mode and select it from the Other Devices list on your iPad. For wired devices, connect the USB cable directly to your iPad via a USB-C hub or adapter.
Note: Ensure your device has sufficient battery life before initiating pairing.Adjust pointer tracking speed
Navigate to Settings > General > Trackpad & Mouse. Adjust the Tracking Speed slider to increase or decrease the responsiveness of the cursor. Higher speeds allow for faster traversal across large displays.
Modify scrolling behavior
Within the Trackpad & Mouse menu, locate the Natural Scrolling toggle. Disable this if you prefer the content to move in the opposite direction of your finger swipe or scroll wheel movement.
Assign secondary click actions
If you are using a mouse with multiple buttons, select Secondary Click to choose which side triggers the context menu. For trackpads, you can choose to enable Tap to Click for faster, vibration-free interaction.
Customize cursor appearance
Go to Settings > Accessibility > Pointer Control. Use the toggles to enable or disable Pointer Animations and Increase Contrast to make the cursor more visible against complex backgrounds.
Note: Adjust the Color settings here to make your cursor easier to track in low-light environments.